Echo CS400 Chain Tensioner

[FlyingDutchman]

This gear type tensioner is such a headache and expensive! For the second time, the chain popped off cutting brush and the gearset in the the tensioner is shredded. Is there a less complicated tensioner thats available for these saws that I can replace it with that will be cheaper?

I LIKE the fact you can do it from the side but I DON"T like replacing shredded gears that are super expensive....

 

[s sidewall]

Never had that problem with mine, just keep the channel cleaned out.

Steve from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Looks like compacted debris in the gear teeth caused it/contributed to derail- possible sand contamination. The derail did damage to the teeth but it still seems serviceable with a little deburring with a triangle file. This tensioner appears it must need fairly constant maintenance. I haven't touched a tensioner beyond using it for what it's intended for on any of my other saws... Ever.

 

[esshup]

I have had a CS-340 and never had a problem with the tensioner. I DO clean it pretty well with compressed air every day I swap a chain. I don't sharpen on the bar, I just swap chains, then sharpen them at home. Its seen enough use that the plastic "dogs" are worn down to about 25% remaining material.

 

[rmotoman]

I've had a cs400 for 10+ years with no tensioner problems. I bought a cs352 with the tensioner kind of stripped. It still tightens the chain so I haven't fixed it yet.

 

[mountainlake]

If your stripping them your horsing on the tensioner with the bar nuts too tight. Steve

 

[FlyingDutchman]

A friend gave me a CS-370 he had laying in his shed. Fired up an ran after sitting for 10 years plus. Guess what was broken?

The tensioner. Junk haha.

 

[Brufab]

I run the heck out of cs-400s and throw alot of chain clearing brush and alot of dirt and debris gets packed in from cutting stumps flush with the ground clearing land for food plots. Never had this issue, but I will be paying more attention to this issue moving forward, thanks for sharing the info

 

[link]

If your stripping them your horsing on the tensioner with the bar nuts too tight. Steve

That.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

That.

No.

Chain throwing events breaking teeth off of the tensioner or damaging it...

Using the tensioner to tighten chain without proper support (bar nuts finger tight). The tin plate inside will be pushed out by the gears if unsupported and put under any sort of load, misaligning the gears. Debris makes this worse.